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Jan 22, 2001

Kobe defends company rugby league title

Kobe Steel clinched the National Company Rugby Union Championship for the second consecutive year and ninth time overall after beating Toyota Motor 29-26 on Sunday at Tokyo's Chichibunomiya Stadium.
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Jan 15, 2001

Toyota, Kobe to meet in rugby final

Toyota Motors advanced to the final of the National Company Rugby Union Championship after beating NEC 46-12 Sunday at Tokyo's Chichibunomiya Stadium.
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Jan 3, 2001

Hosei, Kanto rumble into college rugby final

Underdog Hosei University stunned Keio University with its powerful defense before rallying past the defending champion 15-13 in the semifinals of the National Collegiate Rugby Union Championship on Tuesday at Tokyo's National Stadium.
Rugby
Jun 20, 2023

Ethnic Korean Lee Seung-sin hopes to set example in Japan's RWC squad

The fly-half was among 36 players named in Japan's test squad as Jamie Joseph begins his preparations for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
Japan Times
Rugby
Mar 13, 2023

Ireland stays on course for Grand Slam after Six Nations win over Scotland

Ireland, which has claimed the Triple Crown and has its sights now set on a Grand Slam, now leads the Six Nations table with 19 points from four games, four ahead of second-placed France.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jul 22, 2023

Michael Leitch red card costs Japan in World Cup tune-up against Samoa

Samoa edged the home side 24-22 in Sapporo in what was a dress rehearsal for the two teams' Pool D encounter at the World Cup in France later this year.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jan 24, 2023

France hopes for injury reprieve in Six Nations title defense

France starts the defense of its title in Italy on Feb. 5, before a crunch clash away in Ireland six days later.
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE
Aug 24, 2003

Samurais are in a league of their own

With the launch of the Top League (the new professional league for rugby union in Japan) just three weeks away and the World Cup due to start on Oct. 10, it is easy to forget that there are in fact two codes of rugby.
Rugby / Coach's Eye
Dec 25, 2019

Japan exceeded all expectations at 'magnificent' RWC

I thought the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan was a magnificent tournament. It was extremely well organized, with great participation by the host country. Financially and in terms of participation, it was the most successful World Cup there has been.
Rugby
May 19, 2005

Celebrities line up to support Japan's bid to host RWC

The Japan Rugby Football Union rolled out the celebrities on Tuesday in support for its bid to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
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Jun 10, 2004

Campo hits out at disco-dancing robots, penny-pinching unions

It's probably fair to say that David Campese is not exactly at the top of the International Rugby Board's Christmas card list. Or for that matter the Australia Rugby Union's.
SPORTS / SPORTS SCOPE
Dec 27, 2001

No Christmas cheer this year

Christmas, or more precisely ohshogatsu (the New Year), is a time when most people in Japan can take a vacation. But not for the top rugby players at high school, university and company level.
Newly appointed Australia head coach Joe Schmidt outside Rugby Australia's head office in Sydney on Friday.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Jan 19, 2024

New Zealander Schmidt confirmed as new Wallabies coach

Schmidt takes over for Eddie Jones, who acrimoniously quit in October after the team's calamitous World Cup campaign and was quickly hired to coach Japan.
Japan's Yoshitaka Yazaki tries to tackle New Zealand's Mark Tele'a during a match on Saturday in Yokohama.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Oct 27, 2024

After All Blacks loss, Brave Blossoms' new crop of players still needs time to bloom

The 64-19 score was not as bad as it looks on paper, but Saturday's game in Yokohama showed Japan has a long way to go to compete with the best.
Japan head coach Eddie Jones celebrates after the team's victory over the U.S. at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Dec 14, 2023

Make friends, start winning again: Eddie Jones' to-do list

Here are five challenges facing 63-year-old Eddie Jones as he returns to the Brave Blossoms.
Australia coach Joe Schmidt will face his former team when the Australians face Ireland on Saturday.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Nov 29, 2024

Australia coach Joe Schmidt not expecting hero's welcome in return to Ireland

Current Ireland coach Andy Farrell says the New Zealander deserves "all the accolades" he receives because "of what he did for Irish rugby."
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Papua New Guinea leader James Marape address a news conference in Sydney on Dec. 12.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 17, 2024

Australia shows how smart diplomacy is done

Recent deals reflect the laser focus the Australian government is devoting to its closest neighbors and a bureaucratic reorganization that translates into action.
Eddie Jones watches warmups before Japan's test against France in Paris on Nov. 9, 2024.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Jan 31, 2025

Australia lines up test against Eddie Jones and Japan in Tokyo

Japan's Brave Blossoms are coached by Eddie Jones, who took the role after leading Australia to a disastrous finish at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Japan coach Eddie Jones (right) shakes hands with France coach Fabien Galthie before a match in Saint-Denis, France, on Nov. 9, 2024.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Apr 17, 2025

Japan coach Eddie Jones at peace after messy exit from Australia

Jones oversaw Australia's worst Rugby World Cup performance at the 2023 tournament in France.
Eddie Jones (right), then the England coach, and Ireland coach Andy Farrell talk ahead of a match in London on Feb. 23, 2020.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Nov 7, 2025

Japan coach Eddie Jones confident Andy Farrell can revive Ireland

Recent results have led to fears that a golden era for Irish rugby union may be winding down.
 England's fly-half and captain Owen Farrell helped lead the team to a third-place finish at the Rugby World Cup.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Nov 30, 2023

England's Farrell to skip Six Nations to prioritize mental health

Farrell has won 112 caps since making his international debut in 2012 and is England's all-time leading points scorer with 1,237.
Eddie Jones is set to become the head coach of the Brave Blossoms six weeks after the Australian quit the Wallabies following their dismal showing at the World Cup.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Dec 13, 2023

Eddie Jones named as Japan head coach, ending weeks of speculation

Jones will officially commence his duties from Jan. 1, the Japan Rugby Football Union said on its website.
Japan head coach Eddie Jones before a game against Scotland at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Jones will be returning to the post, the Japan Rugby Football Union announced Wednesday.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Dec 14, 2023

Wounded Eddie Jones has plenty to prove on Japan return

The 63-year-old is revered in Japan for masterminding their "Miracle of Brighton" win over South Africa at the 2015 World Cup.
Jamie George learned of his mother's cancer diagnosis on the same day he found out he would be the England captain.
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Feb 23, 2024

Jamie George to captain England with heavy heart after mother's death

George learned his rugby-fanatic mother, Jane, had contracted lung cancer the same day he was appointed England captain.
New Zealand's Cam Roigard in action with Namibia's Damian Stevens during the Rugby World Cup 2023 in Toulouse, France, in September 2023
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Oct 22, 2024

Roigard returns as Lakai and Love set for All Blacks debuts against Japan

"The energy in the group as we kick off this tour is exciting to see," coach Scott Robertson said in a news release.
France scrumhalf Antoine Dupont runs with the ball during his team's game against Japan at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France, on Nov. 9.
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Nov 15, 2024

All Blacks hope to nullify 'freakish' Antoine Dupont during clash against France

New Zealand center Anton Lienert-Brown described France scrumhalf Antoine Dupont as a "freakish player."
Former rugby league player Jordan Mailata won the Super Bowl with the Eagles last season.
MORE SPORTS / Football
Apr 24, 2025

Australians eye NFL draft in hopes of finding next Jordan Mailata

Mailata's ascent to the pinnacle of the game was big news in Australia.

Longform

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